Howden has secured a grant from the UK Space Agency to build a satellite-based biodiversity risk monitoring system. The system, to be developed in Howden’s Resilience Laboratory in partnership with PCI Geomatics, aims to give insurers, landowners and developers a scalable solution to detect ecological change over land sites.

The project will integrate earth observation data, artificial intelligence and land classification models to map habitat boundaries, assess habitat quality and track transitions over time. By embedding such data into underwriting and risk assessment, Howden says insurers will gain a clearer view of nature-related risk, enabling underwriting that rewards nature-positive behaviours and meets evolving regulatory demands such as biodiversity net gain.

Traditional biodiversity and habitat assessments typically rely on field surveys, manual sampling or inconsistent datasets, which are costly, slow and often infeasible at scale, particularly across remote or fragmented sites. Howden argues the new approach can dramatically speed up and widen coverage of assessments, while offering more auditable, consistent data to support frameworks such as the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, and compliance with biodiversity net gain in England.

As part of the pilot, the system will be trialled on sites identified by Dual, Howden's specialist underwriting arm, to validate accuracy, usability and operational value. The insights will be used to refine the model and chart a path for commercial rollout across sectors such as land development, renewables, agriculture and natural resources.

Matthew Foote, head of climate and emerging risk intelligence, climate risk and resilience, Howden, said: “This grant allows us to fully activate the capabilities of the Howden Resilience Laboratory, where cutting-edge technology meets world-class expertise to solve our clients’ most complex challenges."

Lydia Green, head of unlocking space, UK Space Agency, added: “Howden’s work highlights the growing role of satellite data in solving complex environmental challenges. By translating Earth Observation into practical tools for risk assessment, this project shows how space technology can deliver real-world impact, supporting innovation in insurance and opening up new possibilities for sustainable land use and investment.”

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